Plastic reduction a winning idea
Hawke’s Bay’s small dairy company, Origin Earth, recently struck gold winning the Central Region final of the Westpac Business Growth Grants Award.
The prize includes an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii in September to attend the Nurture Change Business Retreat. The company came in ahead of around 50 entrants, stretching from Taranaki to Poverty Bay.
Origin Earth was founded in 2010 by Joanie and Richard Williams and processes around 50,000 litres of fresh farm milk a month at its Havelock North plant. Products include a range of cheeses, yoghurt and fresh, pasteurised, (not homogenised), milk.
“The basis of our entry was to further develop our plastic reduction programme”, says Joanie. “We have developed a system so we can supply our bulk milk customers with milk in reuseable containers.”
A large percentage of production is fresh milk at Origin Earth, and a large proportion of that is used in bulk by cafes, schools and smoko rooms. The bulk milk containers are at present food grade plastic. They go out full of fresh pasteurised milk. When they are returned to the factory they go through a complete sanitisation inside and out before being refilled for re distribution.
“For every crate of milk that is replaced by a bulk container, we are completely preventing the use of 9 x 2litre single use plastic bottles. This initiative is so measurable that we publish our savings on the back of our van”, Joanie says.
“At this very early stage in our project we are already removing 1260 bottles a week from a Hawke’s Bay’s waste stream.”
The national final of the Westpac Business Growth Grants was held in Auckland in late July, with a grand prize of $50,000 as well as the trip to Hawaii. Origin Earth had to compete with the other five regional finalists in a Dragons Den type presentation shoot out in front of six judges. Businesses with a turnover of up to 10 million were eligible.
“Had we won the big one, the money would have been used to further develop equipment for the bulk milk scheme.
“We are still winners though,” Joanie says. “The Hawke’s Bay business team at Westpac were the ones to suggest we enter.
“They have been incredible and through the process we have forged allies in the bank, but above all some new customers for our milk.”
Since inception, Origin Earth has been led by the market.
“When we first started we never thought that simple fresh milk would be so popular.”
While their cheeses have won many medals in national competitions, it is the milk that is the focus of attention.
“With the focus on plastic reduction, our scheme should be a winner. We find it quite amusing to see the big companies crowing that they are using 10 per cent recycled plastics or have stopped using plastic straws. If you don’t use plastic in the first place you don’t have to worry about what to do to recycle it.” Joanie and Richard must find another way to finance their scheme.